Self-assessment of addition and subtraction fact families

Use Handout 1: Addition self-assessment to have students self-assess the addition and subtraction fact families that are hard for them to remember.


Strategies for addition and subtraction combinations
Then use Handout 2: Strategies for adding, a list of addition and subtraction strategies, to teach students in small groups who need to learn particular combinations.


Fluency Games
Students have fun practicing their fact families with games, like the one below (much more fun than using flash cards). Fluency develops as students use strategies more and more quickly in friendly competition.

Flip card addition

Two students play this card game, sitting across from each other. Each student has half of the deck of cards, which they hold face down. They each turn one card up and put it on the table at the same time, then the first person who says the sum of the two cards gets those cards. (Face cards count as 10.)
The play continues until one player has all the cards.
Be careful how you match kids up, or the game ends quickly!